La Casa Newington

★★★★★

“I've strolled past La Casa many times since it took over from Southpour in Newington, so I was keen to try it mid-week with friends. We were seated by the window overlooking the main road, with comfortable cushions and warm lighting adding to the relaxed tapas-bar ambience. We ordered a mix of tapas and main courses. A friend chose the gambas pil pil (£11.25), which is a traditional Spanish tapas dish with juicy king prawns served in piping hot garlic oil in a small ceramic dish. She had to order a bread basket separately (£3.95), which included at least five generous slices with butter, though at that price a couple of slices alongside the prawns would have been a nice touch. She also ordered padrón peppers (£8.25), and a generous portion arrived shortly after. I opted for the mixed grill (£24.95), which was excellent. The chargrilled chorizo sausages were easily some of the best I've had in a long time, served with pancetta, lamb chop, chicken breast, herbal Greek pork sausage, a fresh vibrant Mediterranean salad and chips. It was well presented and hit the spot. Another friend ordered the pan-fried chicken fillet with Serrano ham, manchego cheese, garlic and white wine, touch of tomato sauce with chips. Unfortunately, it didn’t resemble the description and was sent back. I'll be honest and say it looked awful and clearly not 'as described'. She chose lamb chops instead, which she thoroughly enjoyed. The pan-fried fillet of sea bass with garlic, mussels, white wine, cherry tomatoes with potatoes and salad looked delicious and enjoyable. For dessert, the Crema Catalana - described as Spain’s famous custard - was essentially a crème brûlée. My friend enjoyed it, although I think she was expecting something slightly different and perhaps not quite what was expected. No complaints though. It’s not cheap, and whether it represents good value is questionable. £4.25 for half a pint of Cruzcampo and £6.95 for a pint of Guinness is a bit steep, especially with a 10% service charge added. I opted for tap water. The total bill for seven, including drinks and service, came to around £245. The restaurant clearly has ventilation issues from the kitchen, with staff opening the back door in an attempt to clear the smoke that drifted into the dining area. One diner mentioned her eyes were stinging a bit with the smoke, and another said the toilets were overwhelmed with the smell of grease and cooking oil from the kitchen. Expect to have to put all of your clothes in the washing machine immediately afterwards. That said, the service was friendly, warm and attentive throughout and I enjoyed the evening. I would return, although probably for lunch and a leisurely afternoon when it's likely to be a different and more affordable experience. I would recommend it, albeit with a few caveats.”

★★★★★

“This was my first visit after a recommendation. Each dish was delicious (we had 12 or so between 4 of us).. The restaurant was very busy yet service was efficient and friendly. Good wine list and reasonable prices. Overall terrific value. Good vibe and pleasant space. Will definitely return as I live locally.”

★★★★★

“We had a light lunch and were very pleased. Service was super; water brought straight to the table without having to ask for it, good advice about the wine, very relaxing. Food was lovely.”